Join us for the culmination of the 2014 Mission Voices Summer program! Three projects led by the three lead teach artists present the work of 45 youth artists.

What if, at some point in the past, adults were no longer in charge? We Took Over the City explores a revisionist history of San Francisco, imagining a moment at which youth assumed control over the city. Through mixed media, drawing, painting and video production, the Mission Voices Summer artists use this alternative timeline to address concepts such as non-sequential narration, storytelling as a form of propaganda, power in social dynamics, as well as exploring their relationships, both physical and ephemeral, to the city.

Fluorescent Exposure
Performance: "Ultra Violet Drum" by The MJ Double KT BandLead Teaching Artist: Dana Dart-McLeanTeaching Artist Assistant: Victoria Ayala
The story of taking over the city is told through an installation of drawings and paintings. Artists locate themselves in the conflict by answering the question, "How did you become a legend in the struggle?" with symbolic self portraits and masks. Collaborating to build composite figures battling in the city, the artists of Fluorescent Exposure explore how presentation affects understanding of a narrative. During the opening reception, the artists regroup as The MJ Double KT Band to perform their original composition "Ultra Violet Drum."

Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
Lead Teaching Artist: Adrienne Skye RobertsTeaching Artist Assistant: Amanda SimonsIntern: Maeve FitzHoward
Artists take control of the news and re-envision stories from their own experiences and perspectives. Together, they creating visual material in the form of posters, the front page of a newspaper and leaflets that describe events based on the changes they want to see in the city.

Stories from the Frontline
Lead Teaching Artist: Chris FiorentiniTeaching Artist Assistant: Ethan RafalIntern: Lizzy Myers
Teams of artists write and direct short films about the beginning, middle and end of their citywide takeover. Their films mix genres and art forms: using interviews, reenactments, found footage and both narrative and non-narrative film techniques, the artists share their own stories from the frontline of their brief but beautiful revolt.

Southern Exposure's Mission Voices Summer (MVS) is an arts program that gives youth the opportunity to exercise leadership skills in their community by exploring relevant social and personal issues through visual arts workshops. The intensive summer program focuses on arts-based community development by pairing local artists with teens. Youth learn to use the visual arts as a tool to express their creative voices and to make a visual statement about their ideas, interests and ambitions through a series of workshops that result in a project presented to the public.

Bringing together youth artists, teaching artists and mentors to spark a dialogue on contemporary artistic practice and sociopolitical issues. Free arts education for over 22 years.